Easter is finally over

The amazing Lisa Clarke, found over at Polka Dot Cottage, shared her pretty autumn-themed cloth napkins, oh, about a year ago.

Procrastination? Yeah. I has it.

I commented--rather, I lamented-- in a comment on her post that this was the inspiration I needed to finally move on to some other napkins on our table. You see, when I made that comment one year ago, we had Easter themed napkins in daily use from about two years before that, at least.

Honestly, thinking about it, I think we used those napkins for even longer...maybe four or five years?!

Yes folks, Christmas morning at our house meant the Easter bunny (on the lavender napkin) smiling up at you in all in his pastel glory. Thanksgiving, well at least the carrot-embroidered napkin had a yellow napkin. And really, there was something quite comforting about my favorite, the sky blue napkin with the pretty yellow and red tulips.

Anyway, after seeing her gorgeous fall napkins about a year ago, I decided it was time to move away from the Easter theme and on to something a little more, well, anything else at all dear god would be great!

So, I finally did it. I bought the fabric a few weeks ago, sat down at my sewing machine, and had a total fit. I just couldn't get the darn things to work. I came back to it about a week later, and everything went so easily that I can't imagine anyone ever having a problem with it in the first place--even me!

First I took the fabric and ripped it down the center, which yielded strips about 18" wide. I made little snips in the fabric to mark 18" in the other direction and tore each of those snips to yield four 18" square pieces of fabric. Because I still had the selvage on one edge of each napkin, I used the width of the selvage to determine my first fold for the hem. I folded the fabric over one more time and ironed it flat to within an inch of its life.

I then sewed a straight stitch all the way around, with the bottom side up. The first time I tried to do these, I sewed with the right side up, very neatly, thinking I could catch my hem all the way around. Hah! Haha ah haa haaaaaa. WAh. Okay. Then, moving on.

I didn't really like the way the "looseness" of the fabric in the hem. I'm sure that actual seamstresses have an actual word to use for what I'm talking about. Heck, I bet Bet knows the word. She was a much more astute Home-ec 4-H'er than I was, especially in sewing. I did better at the cooking part. I even went to State for cooking. Not for sewing. Otherwise, I might know the word for looseness of the fabric in a hem.
I solved the loosesness problem, whatever it's called, by sewing another round around the cloth, this time from the top.

And, here they are, top and bottom.

Yep, they work!

Okay, I know the napkin belongs in your lap while you're eating, but you really don't need a picture of my lap. Really.

These were so easy, I might just make some more for other seasons. Check back in a year for that...

UPDATED 10-14-10 to add: Here's a link to Tanya's tutorial on making corners the way they're supposed to be made, aka mitered corners. This would be better than what I did, although my way did get it done.

Sometimes my thought run wild... (by Kat)

Sometimes, I'm just not content with the status quo.

Sometimes, I want to stir things up a little and examine the aftermath. Is it better? Is it worse?

Take bread, for example. I wondered if it really tasted better homemade (okay, no I didn't. I knew it did, but just work with me here, okay)? Would I be able to keep up with the household demand? Was the homemade bread train headed down the tracks in the right direction and I just never knew I needed that ticket? The answer was an overwhelming yes on all accounts.

Take soap, for example. Some people make their own. How weird is that? No, wait, how cool is that? Should I try it too? Could I try it too? Was the happily ever after story of homemade soap a myth? Was it a lye (sorry, couldn't help myself)? Turns out making my own soap totally rocks. Why didn't I try it sooner?

Bees? Same thing!

Fireworks? Sure!! Well, no, Mr. Boom handles the explosives around here, but I watch. Do I get a little bit of credit for that?

So, what else can I shake up?

Welllllll....we're going camping this weekend. I've got a bee in my bonnet to try at least one of the following three adventures: sous-vide steaks, ice cream made with dry ice, or solar cooking. Yes, all three have to do with food. What else is there, right?!

Will it be a habit I keep? Honestly, I don't see any of them sticking around for long. But I'd sure love to try each of them at least once.

Have you tried any of these meal preparation strategies?

Did it work? Do you still do it?

Cook Your Meat in a Beer Cooler: The World's Best (and Cheapest) Sous-Vide Hack from Serious Eats

How to Make Instant Dry Ice Cream from DadLabs.com

Solar cookers from Teong H. Tan

Camping is so much fun!

I can't wait!

I've been accused (yet again!) of procrastination.

Huh.

Gotta go!!!

Packin' up (by Kat)

Mr. Boom and I are heading out in less than three hours for our weekend trip through the North Cascades. Mr. Boom, of course, finished packing his things last night. He's all set. He's ready to go.

Me, well, I'm not Mr. Boom, am I? He's the math major, I'm the anthropology major. Our weekend preparations directly illustrate our educations, I'm afraid! Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny may be disproved, but that doesn't threaten my statement one bit.

In order to prepare for our trip I am cleaning my espresso maker. Some people put on clean underwear in case they die in an auto accident. Me? I clean my espresso maker. Please Lord, don't let me die with a dirty espresso maker on my counter. I couldn't handle the shame...

In order to prepare for our trip I'm making croissants and pain au chocolate (chocolate-stuffed croissants). They're in our bedroom, raising in the heat that older homes are known for in the summer. This is Mr. Boom's dresser. You don't actually think there's room for this kind of thing on top of mine, do you?

I made a big batch of potato salad yesterday. I figure between the croissants, the potato salad and the car food, we should be good for three days. Right? Right?

Car food. Dare I admit this to the world? I love Kraft cheese spread in the little jars spread on Triscuits when I'm in the car. This isn't something I'd be caught dead eating at home, but on a car trip it's a non-negotiable requirement. The cheese product (seriously, that's what it's called) is best bought in a gas station. Ideally the jar will be dusty and the label should have evidence of water damage. Like a fine wine, the yellow goo needs to age and have a good story behind it.

I've also made several jars of espresso, frozen solid, to which I'll add milk and call my morning latte. So. Potato salad, croissants, car food, espresso. Three days? No problem. I hope.

In order to prepare for our departure in less than three hours I'm checking on the bees. Because, you know, they're really going to be sad while we're gone. They're going to miss me a lot. Right?



Other items:

The trail cam did not catch sight of the cherry pit pooper last night. We'll set it up again when we return.

The grapes outside the kitchen door are beginning to look like grapes! Pretty!

No, I must get packing. Seriously. No excuses.
Oh look! The kitties are being cute! Grab the camera!

Raw Materials (by Kat)

I'm at my desk, drowning in raw materials.

To my right, I have one bottle each of safflower and soybean oil. A smaller jar of coconut oil sits in front, not golden like those two but a creamy white color, congealed at room temperature.

To my left is a brand new over-sized cone of ecru-colored cotton yarn.

Should I soap or should I crochet?

Fish or cut bait?

Or have you already realized the truth of the matter? Yeah, I'm putting off housecleaning!

Scholarship Brunch was getting the axe this week. The gal who cancelled has a very sick little girl, and will be taking her to the big city far-far away. I told her that if she'd call everyone, I'd do brunch this month. Which is this week. Which, as a matter of fact, is tomorrow morning.
So, the house needs to be cleaned, the table extended for twelve settings, and I need to figure out what to make.

This leads me back to sitting by patooty in front of my desk, staring at the raw materials, and putting off what must be done.

Let them eat quiche!